Romney’s Misguided Missile Targets Trump

Mitt Romney took to the middle ring today in the ongoing Republican Circus to attack and degrade Donald Trump and all on the morning of the GOP debate in Detroit. It seems odd to me that Romney, the Republican nominee in 2012, who was endorsed by Trump by the way, levels his biggest criticisms for the way Trump has been attacking others in the race, while going on a full frontal attack. Romney also cited Ronald Reagan in his speech roundly denigrating the GOP Presidential frontrunner, while forgetting the Reagan axiom; never speak ill of a fellow Republican.

Romney cited Trumps vulgarities on the campaign trail and likened them to a child saying, “If we republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee the prospect for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished.”

He took aim at Trumps plans for the economy and said his tax plan and his refusal to reform entitlements will sink us even deeper in debt.

In fact, Romney took shots at Trump from almost every conceivable angle. The question is why? Does he think this will somehow magically propel one of the other remaining candidates to the top of the heap? If so, then maybe he should have taken time to endorse Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz or John Kasich.

Romney, who was trying to claim the moral high ground seemed to wander deep into the political swamp while decrying the foul smell. “I’m not the first to conclude the Donald Trump does not have the temperament to be President,” he said and then adding moments later he found Trumps approach to the race more like “Third grade theatrics.”

“Dishonesty is Donald Trump’s hallmark,” he continued before summing it all up this way, “Here's what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat.” That last part struck me as the strangest comment of the entire speech. Why? Well he said clearly that Trump gets a free ride to the White House, which to the casual listener would indicate exactly what I have been saying for awhile now; the Republican establishment isn’t worried about Donald Trump losing as they keep saying over and over again but rather are petrified he is actually going to win The White House and won’t be beholden to them.

In the end it seems to me, Romney missed the mark and may well have elevated Donald Trumps numbers once again as people see him as the outsider fighting back against the machine for them and their families. Right now it’s being called the Trump Phenomenon but it might soon be called a movement or even a revolution. Revolutions almost always come at a cost.

Tonight’s GOP debate in Detroit followed by Michigan’s high stakes primary could give a very clear indication of where we are going from here.